Press Release
HARRISBURG – In support of adults and children with medical conditions like autism, the House of Representatives today passed Rep. Tom Mehaffie’s House Bill 19 to create professional licensure for those practicing applied behavior analysis.
Thirty-one states already offer licensing for board-certified behavior analysts.
Applied behavior analysis techniques are used to help children and adults with a variety of diagnosed conditions, including substance abuse disorder, autism, post-traumatic stress disorder and Alzheimer’s disease.
Mehaffie (R-Dauphin) joined with Rep. Lynda Schlegel Culver (R-Northumberland/Snyder) to introduce House Bill 19 because he is passionate about helping patients when they are most vulnerable.
“I have heard from so many families who have benefited from ABA because the impacts are felt throughout the entire household,” Mehaffie said. “Licensing providers recognizes the academic and training requirements they have fulfilled, it reduces the likelihood of fraud, and it protects Pennsylvanians who are seeking to ensure their behavior analyst is the person he or she claims to be.”
Mehaffie and Culver urge swift review of House Bill 19 in the Senate.
Author: Amaury Abreu
